The Missing Luna

Chapter 1: Hope’s POV

Announcement:

This story will contain triggering content, from physical torture to s****l abuse, so if these subjects trigger you, I suggest reading a different story. I will put trigger warnings in each episode that may contain sensible content, but as several chapters will be labeled as triggering, it is up to you readers if you want to continue.

As always, thank you all for your support. I hope you enjoy this story as much as you have enjoyed the others.

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I wanted this nightmare to end. My body couldn’t take the torture much longer. I wished I had been more careful that day, but I never imagined my visions were, in fact, visions. I thought I was going crazy, mainly because my Mom and dad didn’t believe me. Apparently, it was impossible to look at the future unless you were a seer, but they had been dead for ages.

Since I got my wolf, I started getting weird visions that I didn’t understand, but they became real. I saw how my Mom would scold my brother or how he would find his mate when he turned eighteen. But when I told my Mom or Dad, they said they were just dreams.

My wolf, Kira, told me I could see the future, but how could I believe in her when my parents said the exact opposite?

Eventually, as I got older, these visions came rarely, but that day… I should have taken precautions.

Now, because of my lack of trust, I am here, being tortured daily.

My cell was dirty; I was covered in blood, sweat, and vomit from my last torture session. They hose me once a month (I believe), so my odor is more manageable. But for some reason, they haven’t done it this month.

My skin has recovered, but once they hose me down, I will get blisters again. They are using wolfsbane mixed with iron (somehow) because it made my wolf/bear disappear. She left a few years ago, and I haven’t heard from her since. I don’t even know if she is alive anymore, considering I have been tortured since I was a child.

They also did experiments on me, and now my body has fully regenerated—the tests they did to prove that to me were atrocious.

My mind wandered about those days; they had moved on to something else, but those were the worst so far.

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I was strapped to a chair; the cuffs burned my wrists as my skin came in contact with the iron. I didn’t try to escape, I learned long ago that if I did the punishment will be worse. They were sickos who enjoyed torturing me.

“Are you ready?” A male voice came from behind, sending shivers down my spine.

I couldn’t see him. My wolf doesn’t come in handy now. The darkness of this place is ominous. The red sky doesn’t help either, but it is the perfect way for demons to hide. They blend with the rest of the environment and the dark stone that makes every single structure I have seen so far.

I didn’t answer; they didn’t want me to answer.

“Hm, cat got your tongue?” He asked maliciously.

Cat was a demon who enjoyed cutting my tongue off and extracting all my teeth. They loved to joke about it, and I hated them for it.

“Not today,” I growled.

“Ow, are we feisty?” He taunted, making me growl again.

I didn’t let them see how much their torture had affected me. I didn’t want to give them the pleasure of seeing me defeated, although I was. The only thing I couldn’t control was my screams, but that was because their methods were horrible. I have never heard of people taking torture to this extent. The underworld certainly knew how to break you.

"Let me go," I said through gritted teeth. I tried to break the cuffs again, but that only caused my skin to burn and the demon to laugh hysterically.

"Not even in your wildest dreams, princess. That is not going to happen," he grabbed me forcefully by my neck and put his face inches away from mine.

"Then give me your best shot," I spat at him in the face. I knew I was taunting him, which could be worse, but I never imagined how much worse.

"Oh, I am going to, I assure you." He said and then called two more demons.

I shivered. They are not going to do what I think they would, right? I was still a kid.

"Did you bring the bucket?" He asked one of the demons; he nodded and gave it to him.

It was a huge aluminum bucket that looked rusty. What was he going to do with that?

"And you?" he addressed the other demon. He gave him a leather clutch; the demon took it and smiled evilly. Then he walked behind me so that I couldn't see the contents.

"She was injected with the serum, so let's see if it works." The demon said, making the other two nod.

"Now, sweety, you have to subtract seven; start from a thousand; we will be here for a long time," he instructed.

What? What was he talking about? Why would I need to subtract seven?

"Start!" he growled, and when I didn't, I felt him cut my finger off with pliers. Blood oozed from my wound heavily, and I yelled in pain.

"One thousand minus seven," he got before me. I couldn't articulate a single word from the pain. "You must understand, Hope, I am not a patient man. So, begin, one thousand minus seven," he instructed again.

I had no choice. He would cut another finger, but if I didn't follow what he told me, the punishment would be much worse.

"One thousand minus seven, nine hundred ninety-three; nine hundred ninety-three minus seven

nine hundred eighty-six," I continued. He cut all my fingers, and then I understood why he made me count.

He didn't want me to lose consciousness; he wanted me to be aware of all the damage he inflicted.

When we reached a hundred, I finally gave up. I lost too much blood to stay awake, and darkness enveloped me.

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That wasn't the last time they did that, either. Each time, he brought another bucket, and he made me fill it with my blood. My fingers regrew, and he cut them again. You will think that with time, it hurt less, but it didn't.

I didn’t know what it felt like to have skin around your fingers and toes. They looked rotten sometimes, and I wondered if it was because they didn’t let them heal properly before starting their next torture session.

This has been the longest they have let me rest, but I am sure it is because they are thinking of new ways to experiment on me.

How long has it been since I was kidnapped? I don’t know. A year? Maybe two?

If the latter was the case, then it meant I was twelve. Yes, they tortured a twelve-year-old without mercy.

I closed my eyes and tried to recall my Mom’s and Dad’s faces. I had the same green eyes he did, with my Mom’s white hair. Mine was curly, though, and I loved it because it reminded me of the snow in our home.

That made my mind wander around Kira and how we met when I was a kid. My parents were amazed when they realized I could talk to my wolf from such a young age, but for some reason, they didn’t believe me when I told them about my powers.

I haven’t told anyone here about what I can do. They will do more experiments, thus inflicting more torture.

I heard the door squeal, meaning someone was coming for me.

My body started shivering in fear. Even though I tried to hide it, it is becoming harder and harder.

“Wakey up, little princess,” It was Cat’s voice, meaning that he would cut my tongue again.

I let out a breath of relief. That was the easiest punishment there was here. It didn’t hurt as much as the others.

“Did I hear you exhale?” He asked, taunting.

“No,” I replied, trying to sound confident.

“Hmm, good, because I can assure you, princess, that you will find out today’s experience will be far more pleasant than other days,” he mocked.

My body shivered. I knew what he meant by calling it a pleasant experience. It will be the worst torture they have inflicted on me ever.

Was I ready?

No, but I had to endure it.

I wished my mate one day could come and save me. That is the only thing keeping me going. I’m sure the Moon Goddess won’t let me suffer forever.

Mates are your other half; they love you with all their hearts. It is said that if your mate dies, you lose a part of yourself, so I am sure he will save me.

I always admired the love my parents had and wanted something similar. They looked so happy together, and the way they joked and talked about each other… yeah, I wanted that, too.

Please, Moon Goddess, let my mate find me; soon, I don’t know how much I can endure.

I prayed silently while Cat dragged me to the torture room.

I didn’t know what to expect. They had not tried anything new on me, but they must be plotting something. I am the little toy that they enjoy torturing, after all.

I noticed that the usual path to the torture room wasn’t the one they were taking. My body shivered unintentionally; where the hell were they taking me? What did they have in mind?

“You noticed we aren’t going to the torture room, didn’t you, princess?” Cat gave me a sinister smile. All I could see were his teeth that shone in the darkness.

I’ve noticed some features from the demons; I think my eyes are getting used to the darkness. Some look human, but others… they have scary features.

Cat had bright yellow eyes that shone in the darkness. His pupil was elongated, like a cat’s. I guess that is where his nickname comes from. It could be the eyes or his smile; every time he does, he looks like the Cheshire Cat.

Although it is the underwood, they should not know Alice in Wonderland, right?

“Where are you taking me?” I asked, trying to sound confident, but my voice came out shaky.

I hated it when they noticed that I was scared. I didn’t want to be.

Yes, I may be only a child, but I was raised to become Luna or Queen one day, depending on what my brothers and I decided. Kale was next in line after me, but he didn’t want to take over my Mom’s position.

We have considered dividing the polar and wolf territories so that two of us could reign over them, but it doesn’t seem right.

I guess we would have to see; it depends on our mate’s rank.

“You will see, princess; I’m sure you will enjoy it,” he teased me.

He was teasing me about the torture they were going to inflict next.

Why? What have I done to deserve this treatment?

I thought I had already experienced the worst they could have imagined, but no. That day, I realized two things.

The first one is that torture can always get worse; they will always find a way to break me.

The second one, I found my mate.

And the third one, he is a fuc.king asshole.